I used the hot can trick... worked great.

(Be sure to empty the can first unless you want it to explode when heated!)

I feel you on the 'solid head/soundguy" debacle. My favorite answer is, "I don't have holes cut in the bottom of any other drum, why would I put one on my bass drum?

I now Mic my own drums and hand soundguys the inserts of my loom.

Well OK, since we're kind of debating this now...sometimes I use an intact front head and sometimes I don't. Actually, most of the time I don't. I play in different kinds of situations and sometimes a very live kick sound is musically inappropriate. Other times, a boomy "boosh" of a drum is hard to use in the studio or on a ballad.

I like having a small, off-center hole. If I want to throw a towel in there somewhere, I cut a hole big enough to do so. Now, I just need to do it well...

Never heard of anyone cutting a hole in the bottom heads of toms, at least not since the late 70's/early 80's. I loathe muffling my toms or snare most of the time, but I'm always serving the music. I love drums, but I'm not necessarily a purist.

Dan

I had the guy at the music store do mine for me. He figured that since I'd just paid for a head and a Holz ring, it was just good customer service to cut the head and install the ring. He even cut the hole just right to remove the Remo logo, which was a great help as I was planning to add a Gretsch logo sticker at the 10-o'clock position.

Gotta love good customer service!

Hot can on the stove. You don't even have to take the head off of the drum!

Another vote for the hot can, I amazed the bandmates when I did it last time for recording.

If you were gonna try that i hope you have a steady hand cuz you just might end up with an key hole and cause waves in the head.